Device for dosing products in past form, in particular meat or other protein emulsions

ABSTRACT

A device for metering products in paste form is provided including a metering chamber having at one of its ends a common filling and discharge opening. A metering plunger is reciprocally mounted within the metering chamber. The product is supplied in paste form into the metering chamber. A distributing cylinder is provided generally perpendicular to the metering chamber and has three lateral openings; namely: a first opening, a second opening facing the first opening, and a third opening axially offset relative to the first two openings. The distributing cylinder also includes a slide valve having a lateral channel and an axial channel. The slide valve is axially movable between: (a) a filling position, wherein the lateral channel connects the first and third openings; (b) an isolating position wherein the three openings of the distributing cylinder are closed; (c) a discharge position where the axial channel connects said first and second openings in order to discharge the dose of product in paste form into a container which has been placed underneath the second opening; and (d) returning the slide valve to the above filling position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for metering of pasty productsand more particularly to a devise for the metering of emulsions of meator other proteins packed in containers such as cans or troughs.

BACKGROUND OF THE RELEVANT ART

As background, as used herein, the term "pasty products" is defined as aproduct capable of forming an adherent mass, but whose consistencynevertheless allows it to be pumped. In other words, a pasty productexhibits coherent mass flow when a pressure is applied to it, eithermechanically (such as, the action of a plunger) or pneumatically (suchas, by pressurizing of a vessel).

When filling containers with a pasty product, it is extremely desirableto develop a system wherein the container is filled cleanly with thepasty product and the pasty product is precisely metered into thecontainer.

First, it is desirable to fill the container cleanly without soiling itsedges. Maximum cleanliness along the closure zones of the container, inturn, maximizes the leakproofness of the container, particularly in thecase where this closure is effected by heat sealing.

This requirement leads to particular difficulties if the pasty productis of fibrous texture, which further increases the volume of productcapable of adhering to the metering head. In this situation the fibreshanging from the metering head are capable of soiling the closure zonesof the container as it arrives and departs.

Second, the greatest possible metering precision is desirable in orderto ensure as complete a filling as possible of the container with theminimum residual volume or space from the closure head.

In order to ensure a precise metering, the prior volumetric meteringdevices typically end of a metering plunger sliding in a cylinderconnected, on the one hand, to a supply conduit communicating with apressurized chamber containing the pasty product and, on the other hand,to a delivery conduit permitting delivery of the metered product towardsthe container.

Systems of valves placed on the supply conduit and on the deliveryconduit ensure correct order of the pumping phases (filling/delivery) insynchrony with the movement of the plunger.

In order to achieve clean filling, in prior metering devices for pastyproducts, a cutting system, for example a guillotine, is provided at theoutlet of the delivery conduit. Such a cutting system permits themetered portion to be separated from the dead volume of productremaining in the delivery conduit and in the metering cylinder.

In addition to its mechanical complexity (valves to synchronize with themovement of the plunger, guillotine system, etc), the prior system hasthe disadvantage of always leaving a dead volume where the product iscapable of accumulating. For this reason, this dead volume risksdamaging the biological quality of the product being metered because ofthe possible development of germs therein.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a devicefor metering of a pasty product which avoids the aforementioneddisadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a volumetricmetering device which is mechanically very simple and, in particular,does not employ valves in the supply and delivery conduits, as well as aguillotine in the final cutting device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device formetering of a pasty product which; totally omits the dead volume of thedistribution system.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for metering ofa pasty product which is designed so that a portion of product pumpedinto the cylinder is entirely and directly delivered into the container,thereby simultaneously providing for the precise metering and thedesired elimination of dead volumes.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a device formetering a pasty product which simply protects the closure zones of thecontainer from any possible trace of product which would be hanging overthe container before removal of the latter; which is particularlyadvantageous as regards products having a more or less fibrous texture,as is often the case with meat emulsions.

Various other object, advantages and features of the present inventionwill become readily apparent from the ensuring detailed description, andthe novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

To this end, the device for metering products in paste form of thepresent invention is characterized in that it comprises:

a metering chamber provided, at one of its ends, with a common fillingand delivery opening,

a metering plunger disposed in the metering chamber and movable axiallyfrom a reference position, leaving no residual volume of pasty productremaining inside the metering chamber, to a raised position defining themetered volume of pasty product,

means for supply of pasty product into the metering chamber underpressure,

a distribution cylinder oriented transversely relative to the meteringchamber and provided laterally with a first opening defining the fillingand delivery opening of the metering plunger, a second opening disposedaxially opposite this first opening, and a third opening offset axiallyrelative to the first two openings and communicating with the means forsupply of pasty product,

a distributor slide is disposed within the distribution cylinder andincludes a lateral conduit for communication between two points offsetaxially relative to each other, and an axial conduit for communicationbetween two points situated axially opposite to each other. Thedistributor slide being movable axially between, successively: (a) afilling position, wherein the lateral conduit opens the said first andthird openings into communication with one another and also closes thesaid second opening of the distribution cylinder so as to permit fillingof the metering chamber via the supply means; (b) an isolating position,wherein after the metering plunger has reached its raised position, thethree openings of the distribution cylinder are closed; (c) a deliveryposition, wherein while the metering plunger is lowered towards itsreference position, the third opening remains closed, and the axialconduit opens the said first and second openings into communication witheach other so as to deliver a portion of pasty product into a containerpreviously placed opposite to the second opening; and (d) repeating thefilling position mentioned above, and

means for selective actuation of the metering plunger and thedistributor slide.

Very advantageously, in the delivery position (c) and after delivery,the metering plunger is raised to an intermediate position above itsreference position so as to remove, at a distance from the container,the remaining adherent mass of pasty product attached to the plungerafter delivery.

In this latter case, between positions (c) and (d) mentioned above, thedistributor cylinder preferably passes through another isolatingposition which permits withdrawal of the filled container, therebyisolating the container from the remaining adherent mass of pastyproduct attached to the plunger after delivery.

In the same way, before the filling operation is repeated as at position(d) above, the distributor cylinder preferably passes through anotherdelivery position in which the metering plunger is displaced from itsintermediate position towards its reference position so as to deliverinto the axial conduit the remaining mass of pasty product attached tothe plunger. The axial conduit being sized so that this deliveredadherent mass does not extend beyond the axial conduit via the secondopening in the distribution cylinder.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the presentinvention, the first opening in the distribution cylinder and the axialconduit of the distributor slide are substantially of the samecross-section as the metering plunger so that, in the delivery position,the metering plunger can be lowered beyond its reference position insuch a way as to penetrate into the axial conduit of the distributorslide.

In this latter case, the second opening in the distribution cylinder isalso substantially of the same cross-section as the metering plunger sothat, in the delivery position, the metering plunger penetrates totallyinto the axial conduit of the distributor slide and emerges from thedistribution cylinder via this second opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description, given by way of example but notintended to limit the invention solely to the specific embodimentdescribed, may best be understood in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 5 are cross-sectional views of a preferred embodiment of themetering device of the present invention illustrating its successiveoperating phases.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are usedthroughout, and the sequence of operation of the various elements of themetering device of the present invention is illustrated.

FIG. 1 illustrates all the elements of the metering device according tothe invention, in the position which the latter occupies at the start ofa cycle (i.e. before filling of the metering chamber).

This device includes a system for supply of pasty product, with anenclosure 1 forming a buffer volume for the pasty product 2 deliveredfrom a storage vessel via a supply conduit 3. The pasty product isforced into the buffer enclosure 1 by being pressurized, for example bymeans of a pump 4 inserted in the supply conduit 3 (and/or bypressurizing of the residual volume at the top of the storage vessel).

The pasty product is metered by means of a metering chamber 5 in which ametering plunger 6 is slidably received therein. The metering plunger 6is provided, if necessary, with a sealing ring 7. The movement of themetering plunger is effected, for example, by a jack 8 to which it isconnected via the rod 9 in such a way as to permit travel of themetering plunger between a reference position (the position illustratedin FIG. 1), wherein the metering plunger is lowered to the bottom of themetering chamber, without dead volume, and a raised position(illustrated in FIG. 2), wherein the volume of the portion of pastyproduct to be delivered if defined.

The metering chamber 5 is in the form of a bottomless cylinder having avertical axis. It should be noted that the vertical arrangement of themetering chamber is generally that which is most satisfactory, given thetendency of the pasty product to flow by gravity. Although thisarrangement is preferable, it is not however indispensable to the use ofthe device of the invention, and although use will be made of terms suchas "raised position", "lowering of the plunger", etc., these termsshould not be regarded as excluding any other possible arrangement ofthe various elements.

A distribution cylinder 10 is provided generally perpendicular to themetering chamber (which is thus horizontal in the preferredconfiguration) in which a distributor slide 11 slides axially under theaction, for example, of a jack 12 to which it is connected via the rod13.

The distribution cylinder 10 is provided with three lateral openings.

The first of these openings, opening 15 in the upper part, is in linewith the bottom of the metering chamber 5; this first opening 15 has thesame cross-section as the metering chamber 5, so that the meteringplunger 6, when it is in its reference position (the positionillustrated in FIG. 1), penetrates, beyond the bottom of the meteringchamber 5, inside this opening 15 and comes into contact with thedistributor slide 11, thus leaving no dead volume at this location.

The second opening 16 in the distribution cylinder is formed in thelower part, opposite the first opening 15 and has the same dimensions asthe latter.

Finally, the distribution cylinder 10 inlcudes a third opening 14 offsetaxially relative to the first two openings 15 and 16. The third opening14 communicates directly with the buffer enclosure 1 for supply of pastyproduct. This opening 14 has been shown in the drawing in the upper partof the distribution cylinder 10, but this arrangement is notindispensable, since gravity plays no role with respect to the supply ofpasty product since the latter is delivered under pressure by theappropriate means set forth above.

The distributor slide 11 is formed of three successive parts.

The first part comprises a blind elongate cavity forming a lateralconduit 17 which permits, in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1,the openings 14 and 15 to be brought into communication, with oneanother and thus the buffer enclosure 1 of the supply system with themetering chamber 5.

The second part 18 of the distribution cylinder, adjacent to theprevious part, is a solid part forming an isolating element.

Finally, the third part, adjacent to the isolating part 18, comprises anopening passing right through the distribution cylinder and forming anaxial conduit 19 (whereas the lateral conduit 17 is a blind conduit).The axial conduit 19 has the same cross-section as the metering chamberand the openings 15 and 16 so as to allow the metering plunger 6 to passthrough all of these elements when the axial conduit 19 is placed inline with the metering chamber (which corresponds to the configurationin FIG. 3, which will be explained hereinbelow).

Finally, below this metering device, a container 20, such as a trough orcan, etc., can be positioned just below the opening 16 by virtue of aconveyor 21 such that the container can be filled. The conveyor alsopermits the removal of the container 20 from beneath opening 16 afterthe container has been filled.

The operation of this metering device will now be described.

In the starting position, illustrated in FIG. 1, the metering plunger 6is lowered to its reference position in which it is in contact with theupper face of the distributor slide 11. In this reference position, nodead volume is present either at the bottom of the metering chamber 5 orat the site of the opening 15 of the distribution cylinder 10.

The distributor slide 11 is placed in its extreme left position (asshown in the figure) in such a way that the lateral conduit 17 bringsthe buffer enclosure 1 into communication with the metering chamber 5.Further, the lower opening 16 remains closed due to the blind lateralconduit 17 does not pass through the distributor slide 11.

Then (arrow I in FIG. 2) the pasty product can be pumped so as to fillthe metering chamber 5 until the plunger reaches (arrow II) its upperend position; the portion of pasty product to be delivered is thusdefined by the volume of the metering chamber 5 (added to that of theopening 15, the thickness of the distribution cylinder 10 never beingzero).

The filling of the metering chamber 5 can be effected either by theaction of the pump 4 (positive pressure) or by active lifting of themetering plunger 6 by the jack 8 (a negative pressure), or alternativelyby a combination of these two actions.

The container 20 to be filled can then be positioned (arrow III) belowthe opening 16, which is still closed.

The isolation of the portion contained in the lateral conduit 17 is thencarried out by displacing the distributor slide 11 to the right (arrowIV in FIG. 3) so that its solid part 18 is opposite the opening 15, withthe lateral conduit 17 thus being isolated, the flow of pasty productfrom the buffer enclosure 1 is interrupted.

The distributor slide 11 is then subjected to an additional displacementto the right (arrow V) in order to move the slide 11 to its end position(the position illustrated in FIG. 3), where the axial conduit 19 isaligned with the two openings 15 and 16, which are thereby brought intocommunication with each other. The metering plunger 6 can then belowered (arrow VI) so as to deliver the portion of pasty product,initially contained in the metering chamber, into the container 20 whichhas been placed below the opening 16 during the preceding stage.

The lowering of the cylinder is very advantageously carried out into aposition which allows it, having passed through the opening 15, theaxial conduit 19 and the opening 16, to lie flush with this opening orto extend slightly from it. In this position no quantity of pastyproduct remains in the dead volumes of the various elements of thedevice.

The metering plunger 6 is then lifted (arrow VII in FIG. 4) slightlyabove its reference position in such a way as to leave a space 22between the distributor slide 11 and the metering plunger 6. In thisspace 22, the adherent remaining mass of pasty product attached to theplunger after delivery will be driven thereinto and isolated therein.

The distributor slide 11 is then displaced to the left (arrow VIII) sothat its solid region 18 is opposite the openings 15 and 16 (positionillustrated in FIG. 4).

In this way, having removed the adherent mass with possible fibres ofproduct which remain attached to the metering plunger, the meteringchamber and the filled container 20 are isolated in such a way that itwill be possible to withdraw the latter (arrow IX) without a risk ofsoiling its closure zones.

The following stage consists in lowering the metering plunger 6 to itsreference position (arrow XI in FIG. 5).

This has the effect of driving the remaining adherent mass into theaxial conduit 19. The dimensions of the distributor slide 11 are chosenso that, given the consistency of the pasty product, this remaining massdoes not extend through the opening 16.

The slide is then displaced to the left (arrow XII), and this allows itto return to the initial position (as shown in FIG. 1). The mass ofpasty product remaining in the axial conduit 19 remains isolated in thisaxial conduit and will be completely expelled during the next deliveryphase, at the same time as the portion contained in the metering chamber5.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be readily appreciatedby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes andmodification may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims beinterpreted as including the foregoing as well as various other suchchanges and modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for volumetric metering of pastyproducts into a container comprising:a metering chamber provided, at oneof its ends, with a common filling and delivery opening a meteringplunger is disposed within the metering chamber and is movable axiallybetween a reference position, wherein no residual volume of the pastyproduct remains inside the metering chamber, to a raised positionwherein a metered volume of pasty product is received within saidmetering chamber, means for supplying the pasty product under pressureinto said metering chamber, a distribution cylinder disposedtransversely relative to the metering chamber and provided laterallywith a first opening defining said filling and delivery opening of saidmetering plunger, a second opening disposed axially opposite to saidfirst opening, and a third opening offset axially relative to the othertwo said openings and in communication with said means for supply ofpasty product, said distribution cylinder including a distributor slidehaving a lateral conduit for communication between first and secondpositions offset axially relative to each other, and an axial conduitfor communication between first and second positions disposed axiallyopposite to each other, said distributor slide being movable axiallybetween: (a) a filling position, wherein the lateral conduit is movedsuch that said first and third openings are opened into communicationwith one another and said second opening of the distribution cylinder isclosed so as to permit filling of said metering chamber via said supplymeans, (b) an isolating position, wherein after said metering plungerreaches its raised position, each of said three openings of saiddistribution cylinder is closed, (c) a delivery position, wherein whilethe metering plunger is lowered towards its said reference position, thethird opening remains closed, and said axial conduit is moved so thatthe said first and second openings are opened so as to deliver a portionof pasty product into the container which is place opposite to saidsecond opening, and when said metering plunger reaches its saidreference position, said metering plunger pentrates through said axialconduit of said distribution cylinder such that no quantity of pastyproduct is contained within said second opening, and means for selectiveactuation of said metering plunger and distributor slide for movement ofthe same.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein after said distributioncylinder is moved into said delivery position, said metering plunger israised to an intermediate position above its said reference position soas to remove, at a distance from the container a remaining adherent massof pasty product attached to the plunger after delivery.
 3. The deviceof claim 2 wherein after reaching said delivery position the distributorcylinder passes through a second isolating position permitting theremoval of the filled container, and thereby isolating the remainingadherent mass of pasty product attached to the plunger after delivery ofpasty product into the filled container.
 4. The device of claim 2wherein said distributor cylinder passes through another deliveryposition in which said metering plunger is displaced from its saidintermediate position towards its said reference position so as todeliver into said axial conduit the remaining adherent mass of pastyproduct attached to said plunger, said axial conduit being sized so thatsaid delivered adherent mass does not extend beyond the axial conduitthrough the second opening in said distribution cylinder.
 5. The deviceof claim 1 wherein said second opening in said distribution cylinder isalso substantially of the same cross-section as said metering plunger sothat, in the delivery position, said metering plunger penetrates totallyinto said axial conduit of said distributor slide and emerges from saiddistribution cylinder through said second opening.
 6. A device forvolumetric metering of pasty products into a container comprising:ametering chamber provided, at one of its ends, with a common filling anddelivery opening, a metering plunger is disposed within the meteringchamber and is movable axially between a reference position, wherein noresidual volume of the pasty product remains inside the meteringchamber, to a raised position, wherein a metered volume of pasty productis received within said metering chamber, means for supplying the pastyproduct under pressure into said metering chamber, a distributioncylinder disposed transversely relative to the metering chamber andprovided laterally with a first opening defining said filling anddelivery opening of said metering plunger, a second opening disposedaxially opposite to said first opening, and a third opening offsetaxially relative to the other two said openings and in communicationwith said means for supply of pasty product, said distribution cylinderincluding a distributor slide having a lateral conduit for communicationbetween first and second positions offset axially relative to eachother, and an axial conduit for communication betwen first and secondpositions disposed axially opposite to each other, said distributorslide being moveable axially between: (a) a filling position, whereinthe lateral conduit is moved such that said first and third openings areopened into communication with one another and said second opening ofthe distribution cylinder is closed so as to permit filling of saidmetering chamber via said supply means, (b) an isolating position,wherein after said metering plunger reaches its raised position, each ofsaid three openings of said distribution cylinder is closed, (c) adelivery position, wherein while the metering plunger is lowered towardsits said reference position, the third opening remains closed, and saidaxial conduit is moved so that the said first and second openings areopened so as to deliver a portion of pasty product into the containerwhich is placed opposite to said second opening, and when said meteringplunger reaches its said reference position, said metering plunger ispositioned with respect to said distribution cylinder such that noquantity of pasty product is contained within said second opening afterdelivery of the pasty product into said container, and wherein saidfirst opening in said distribution cylinder and said axial conduit ofsaid distributor slide are substantially of the same cross-section asthe metering plunger so that, in the delivery position, said meteringplunger can be lowered beyond its said reference position so as topenetrate into said axial conduit of said distributor slide, and meansfor selective actuation of said metering plunger and distributor slidefor movement of the same.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein said secondopening in said distribution cylinder is also substantially of the samecross-section as said metering plunger so that, in the deliveryposition, said metering plunger penetrates totally into said axialconduit of said distributor slide and emerges from said distributioncylinder through said second opening.